3:17 What genuinely amazes me is that a switcher built during the days when steam locomotives were still in revenue service is still on Amtrak's network
I fortunately had the opportunity to catch a CSX Dash 8 on December 2nd, 2023 days before it was placed into storage and that was 7766, it also had SD70MAC 4568 the 50th anniversary operation lifesaver unit as well.
3:11 over here at Caltrain. You can really see the MP 15’s hauling it. They usually move it about 30 miles an hour, but they can go sometimes I believe over 60.
Nice video 👍 kinda funny that i just saw a Dash-8 on the northbound Coast Starlight last night. Also the MP15 in Seattle is retired. Something cool about it is it has a Seahawks long hood. Number for the unit is 530
Most of the EMDs anyway are still in decent running order. Some of them more than others, but man those are good units when maintained well. Even in big yards we prefer them because of how much better and quicker they respond to your input. With the rebuild programs out there like the NS Eco program and the BNSF GP39 program, we're gonna have decent geeps around for a long time.
I have noticed a few Amtrak switchers have been sent to LTEX for storage, I believe they were MP15s but I only know one for certain off the top of my head, 100% go and document these switchers before they are gone! Their time is dwindling.
I caught Dash 8 518 on the Cardinal on August 8th of this year in probably my rarest consist, if you want to see it, you can see it in my video "Amtrak's Cardinal Power Move"
Just took the coast starlight from Portland Oregon, up to Seattle Washington. We were being pulled by an ACL 42 and a Dash 8 in tow as the no.2 engine! 2:56
Stadler, Siemens, and Voith have the options do something really funny........ Stadler has the Euro series, Voith has the Maxima 20 BB, and Siemens has the Eurorunner. They could all make designs for the american road switcher market and one up Progress rail and GE.
I remember seeing the SW1 quite often in DC. There was a solid chance of seeing it shuffle around along with the Gensets and SW1000R. I've seen it quite recently in Ivy City, not just with the saame Phase V paint as the MPI units, but also a new number: 787
Dash8’s showed up from time to time pulling the Autotrain, back when I was regularly watching the Ashland VA railcam, about three years ago. In fact it was always the Autotrain when I saw one. It’s not clear to me to what degree the Autotrain has a dedicated fleet of locos and/or passenger cars.
I’ve always loved all the Amtrak work engines. I’m hoping to see one move before they’re gone. Also I really hope that one of them ends up in a museum.
Honestly Gensets, while having issues, are doing pretty decently for themselves these days. UP has a handful of them that fart around on the south side of chicago and chicagoland which keep pretty busy and are doing better reliability wise than the GP15, GP38, and SD40s ive worked with. Thats not to say either is better or worse, but I feel a revisit of the genset and/or hybrid locomotives are probably going to be the right direction for switching service as far as railroads are concerned.
As an RCO, the locos I work with as SD40s, and their reliability has definitely gone downhill over time. While ~50% of them have no issues, the other ~50% seem to only last anywhere from 4 hours (im being serious) to 4-5 weeks before requiring maintenance that cant be fixed on site.
Those old switchers came from the Santa Fe as part of the trade for the failed SDP40F's. I saw that power move with the new chargers. It was six hours late, but it wasn't smoking when I saw it. It must have been held up for repairs, because it had the same locomotive. Modern locomotives shouldn't smoke like that. Their turbocharger must have gone poof.
My favorite Amtrak non-revenue rolling stock of all time is the Avelia Liberty, I'm looking forward to seeing them being converted for wreck train service once Amtrak finally finds a replacement for the current Acela fleet.
MP15 are good for 60-65mph while SW1200/1500RS are good for 50 or so There are new freight engines they could get GP24 and GP34 are options from EMD but that comes with 3512/3516 prime movers although amtraks use to those engines at least some given their MP15D fleet. GE will build a ET23B
it all comes down to parts. GE (now Wabtec) stopped producing replacement parts for the Dash 8 line and EMD still produces parts for the widely-trusted 16-645. plus dedicated switchers are falling out of favor on freight railroads too as the Geeps are just more versatile.
Maybe someone at Amtrak opened their eyes and ears and heard as well as saw the old adage, "If it aint Broke Don't Fix it" Some of the older units are still viable because of the build quality, and they are not filled with High Tech computers and simply just work.
I mean other than they blew up 746 already the new Gp38-3s are having major problems also some of the rebuilds are original gp38. originally built for the DTI 748 749 and 745 are ex DTI gp38s
It's rather interesting just how funny of an overton window dichotomy is going on here. . . We have an example of an 83ish year old locomotive which was op for It's time, and which itself took part in replacing steam nationwide still being used in 2024. . . But simultaneously, even more advanced evolutions of it are still being used, and only now are being deemed past their service life. . . While doing the same work they've done for decades. . . And while an example of an older and allegedly antiquated loco type is still kicking doing the same work. . . You would think that RRs in long term goal planning and such would recognize that they themselves already have fully capable and easily modernizeable locomotives and equipment to use, but jg that's not so obvious. And yet, the lack of quickly falling out locomotive types such as some from the 50s-90s not existing is still seen as a problem in equipment acquisition! 😂 A bit silly, right? It's kind of a first world problem to rival them all type of situation that's happening here honestly. One where planned obsolescence kinda just didn't work out in EMD's favor when it came to their products, and it's perceived as an issue in the face of *progress* lol 😂
Not news to anyone in the mere Alexandria Virginia vicinity - Norfolk Southern has Alexandria Virginia Yard - which basically replaced the RF&P Potomac Yard and the even older Benning Road Yard as THE freight railroad yard for Greater Washington. (Never mind that Southern Railway was the first freight railroad to be headquartertered in Washington DC proper - before Consolidated Rail ! - and it was not merely deliberately done - but I was not even BORN yet when it was done. (It would have been like Robert Edward Lee WINNING the Battle of Sharpsburg.)
3:17 What genuinely amazes me is that a switcher built during the days when steam locomotives were still in revenue service is still on Amtrak's network
The funny thing is that little fucker is the most reliable locomotive on Amtrak's roster. Reliability of a diesel with the tenacity of a steam engine
I fortunately had the opportunity to catch a CSX Dash 8 on December 2nd, 2023 days before it was placed into storage and that was 7766, it also had SD70MAC 4568 the 50th anniversary operation lifesaver unit as well.
It honestly amazes me how long Dash 8s have survived on American railroads
3:11 over here at Caltrain. You can really see the MP 15’s hauling it. They usually move it about 30 miles an hour, but they can go sometimes I believe over 60.
Nice video 👍 kinda funny that i just saw a Dash-8 on the northbound Coast Starlight last night. Also the MP15 in Seattle is retired. Something cool about it is it has a Seahawks long hood. Number for the unit is 530
Class 1 freight railroads expect the existing 4-axle fleet to last as long as the small customers that they needed to serve.
Most of the EMDs anyway are still in decent running order. Some of them more than others, but man those are good units when maintained well. Even in big yards we prefer them because of how much better and quicker they respond to your input. With the rebuild programs out there like the NS Eco program and the BNSF GP39 program, we're gonna have decent geeps around for a long time.
I have noticed a few Amtrak switchers have been sent to LTEX for storage, I believe they were MP15s but I only know one for certain off the top of my head, 100% go and document these switchers before they are gone! Their time is dwindling.
I caught Dash 8 518 on the Cardinal on August 8th of this year in probably my rarest consist, if you want to see it, you can see it in my video "Amtrak's Cardinal Power Move"
It's nice that the switchers and other non-revenue locomotives are getting some attention
4:51 - sounds like a recently retired Caltrain gallery cabcar horn
Oh yes it does
Kind of sounds like one of the new Caltrain EMUs too
That Portland Extra is a modeler’s dream: MP15, F40 cabbage, Horizon coach, Genesis, Amfleet coach. Just needed a Heritage sleeper on the tail end!
Just took the coast starlight from Portland Oregon, up to Seattle Washington. We were being pulled by an ACL 42 and a Dash 8 in tow as the no.2 engine! 2:56
0:54 I remember that day
Amtrak's FORGOTTEN Locomotives and Their Replacement is wonderful movies. Happy 53rd Anniversary and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Stadler, Siemens, and Voith have the options do something really funny........
Stadler has the Euro series, Voith has the Maxima 20 BB, and Siemens has the Eurorunner. They could all make designs for the american road switcher market and one up Progress rail and GE.
I caught 301 and 79 on Monday at Lorton, VA.
I remember seeing the SW1 quite often in DC. There was a solid chance of seeing it shuffle around along with the Gensets and SW1000R. I've seen it quite recently in Ivy City, not just with the saame Phase V paint as the MPI units, but also a new number: 787
Speaking of the dash 8 I JUST saw 509 on the Coast Starlight last night
I really hope that SW1 is sent to a museum when Amtrak retires it. Cause it would be a real damn shame to see an 83 year old locomotive become scrap.
I agree. That thing is a piece of history
Nah they should jsut keep it in service forever, imagine in 2048 seeing it still in service
Yes let. Her live long and be productive
Dash8’s showed up from time to time pulling the Autotrain, back when I was regularly watching the Ashland VA railcam, about three years ago. In fact it was always the Autotrain when I saw one. It’s not clear to me to what degree the Autotrain has a dedicated fleet of locos and/or passenger cars.
I’ve always loved all the Amtrak work engines. I’m hoping to see one move before they’re gone. Also I really hope that one of them ends up in a museum.
Honestly Gensets, while having issues, are doing pretty decently for themselves these days. UP has a handful of them that fart around on the south side of chicago and chicagoland which keep pretty busy and are doing better reliability wise than the GP15, GP38, and SD40s ive worked with. Thats not to say either is better or worse, but I feel a revisit of the genset and/or hybrid locomotives are probably going to be the right direction for switching service as far as railroads are concerned.
As an RCO, the locos I work with as SD40s, and their reliability has definitely gone downhill over time. While ~50% of them have no issues, the other ~50% seem to only last anywhere from 4 hours (im being serious) to 4-5 weeks before requiring maintenance that cant be fixed on site.
Yesterday dash 8 509 was on coast starlight train 14
A couple dash 8s have been seen in service on the new borealis route recently
When I took the auto train earlier this year it had two P40s and a dash 8 for power. Thought that was cool
Those old switchers came from the Santa Fe as part of the trade for the failed SDP40F's. I saw that power move with the new chargers. It was six hours late, but it wasn't smoking when I saw it. It must have been held up for repairs, because it had the same locomotive. Modern locomotives shouldn't smoke like that. Their turbocharger must have gone poof.
1:50 og days of dogemcswaggerton 😭
Nice job of putting in my home city! #norcal #stocktonca 1:18
CN out here still actively using 60 year old GP9RM’s 🗣️
My favorite Amtrak non-revenue rolling stock of all time is the Avelia Liberty, I'm looking forward to seeing them being converted for wreck train service once Amtrak finally finds a replacement for the current Acela fleet.
I have a good feeling that SW1000R unit 794 will most likely will be saved for preservation.
2:25 Holy crap thats a lot of black smoke. Glad the genesis are being phased out.
Kinda tragic honestly
The *Run e'm till they die* mentality doesn't just extend to cars ig 😅
It's not smoke; it's just doing an ALCo. impression.
Most fuel efficient ge locomotive
The engineer dumped the throttle to put on a show for us, but your point still stands. It is crazy how much cleaner the Chargers are
Funny thing is, I just got a Dash 8 on the Coast Starlight when this video got uploaded
Hoping to catch a MP15 before it’s too late!
Amtrak dash 8s still pulled the Capitol Corridor until the early 2010s
I LOVE TRAINS, VARIOUS TRINKETS ON METAL WHEELS, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
What was a Horizon coach doing in Maine?
Dash 8 #509 was on the coast starlight #14 on 12/10 because of locomotive shortages with an ALC 42 leading it
The only work locomotives in LA are dash 8s and a genset which I have never seen used.
2:27 oh no the turbocharger broke. Again
So thats what happened. Thick oily smoke like that is obviously bad on a diesel engine, yet okay on an oil-fired steam engine.
1:21 MY HOMETOWN W
Hi video clips!
Low-emission genset technology was rushed to completion, and most Class Is have withdrawn them from service.
Amtrak should have keep some of there F - 40’s and used them as MofW engines Boston MBTA does
Technically, as of now the Capitol Limited and Silver Star are not "abolished" but temporarily suspended.
Isn’t the rebuilding of old 4-axel units driven by a desire to avoid the costs of the tier-4 emission mandate on new built engines?
Am I the only one who's kinda gonna be sad to see the Dash-8 going? It's kinda my favorite, ngl...
MP15 are good for 60-65mph while SW1200/1500RS are good for 50 or so
There are new freight engines they could get GP24 and GP34 are options from EMD but that comes with 3512/3516 prime movers although amtraks use to those engines at least some given their MP15D fleet. GE will build a ET23B
2:22 that is some awful smoke
The new switchers have the same engine e with newer emissions equipment
it all comes down to parts. GE (now Wabtec) stopped producing replacement parts for the Dash 8 line and EMD still produces parts for the widely-trusted 16-645. plus dedicated switchers are falling out of favor on freight railroads too as the Geeps are just more versatile.
2:25, The Genesis doesn't look particularly healthy
Maybe someone at Amtrak opened their eyes and ears and heard as well as saw the old adage, "If it aint Broke Don't Fix it" Some of the older units are still viable because of the build quality, and they are not filled with High Tech computers and simply just work.
the original amtrak gp38s were originally gp40tcs from go transit
Yea
I mean other than they blew up 746 already the new Gp38-3s are having major problems also some of the rebuilds are original gp38. originally built for the DTI 748 749 and 745 are ex DTI gp38s
Amtrak SW1 built in 1941 just before WW2.
USA didn't join WW2 until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December of 1941.
I hope that the SW1 is eventually preserved, or they keep it as a sort of heritage unit
We have one in Miami yard
Which locomotives are used in Sanford Florida switching on auto train
It's rather interesting just how funny of an overton window dichotomy is going on here. . .
We have an example of an 83ish year old locomotive which was op for It's time, and which itself took part in replacing steam nationwide still being used in 2024. . .
But simultaneously, even more advanced evolutions of it are still being used, and only now are being deemed past their service life. . . While doing the same work they've done for decades. . . And while an example of an older and allegedly antiquated loco type is still kicking doing the same work. . .
You would think that RRs in long term goal planning and such would recognize that they themselves already have fully capable and easily modernizeable locomotives and equipment to use, but jg that's not so obvious. And yet, the lack of quickly falling out locomotive types such as some from the 50s-90s not existing is still seen as a problem in equipment acquisition! 😂
A bit silly, right?
It's kind of a first world problem to rival them all type of situation that's happening here honestly. One where planned obsolescence kinda just didn't work out in EMD's favor when it came to their products, and it's perceived as an issue in the face of *progress* lol 😂
the reason railroads still use gp40, and gp38, is because they work well, and there are loads of parts for them
Y is that p42s smoke look like it’s burning coal
Bro had to pull out the dogemcswaggerton dash 8 footage
Those who know 💀💀
The reason some locos last so long is because they were well built . They are often only replaced due to obsolete issues .
2:28 how the fudge is that thing cleaner than what it’s putting out with the broken turbo charger
Not news to anyone in the mere Alexandria Virginia vicinity - Norfolk Southern has Alexandria Virginia Yard - which basically replaced the RF&P Potomac Yard and the even older Benning Road Yard as THE freight railroad yard for Greater Washington. (Never mind that Southern Railway was the first freight railroad to be headquartertered in Washington DC proper - before Consolidated Rail ! - and it was not merely deliberately done - but I was not even BORN yet when it was done. (It would have been like Robert Edward Lee WINNING the Battle of Sharpsburg.)
_no way another DB ad_
Why did I think he was going to mention the lone Amtrak GE 44 Ton unit
I was thinking of mentioning it, but I believe its stored to eventually be retired
i saw a trash 8
Where do you find all the information about trains on the Downeaster/Csx track in Maine?
Gpa 38s can sometimes be pulling New York passenger trains. ruclips.net/video/MhWjnydXhMY/видео.htmlsi=mwmoj05PohXm-c9Q
👍👍👍❤❤❤🚂🚂🚂
Do genesises usually smoke like that? I rarely see them smoke that bad
2:27, ALC42 moment??
Everyone is just gonna act normal??!??
It will. That's how every Charger has been delivered from the Siemens facility.
@@MrMarshmallow26 I meant the billowing smoke. ALC42's have been having turbocharger issues.
@@southlinerailsThe ALCs aren‘t even running here, they‘re just being pulled…
@@bahnspotterEU I know that. It’s just the ALC-42’s had a lot of turbocharger issues at first.
No one will forget the P40s fly high P40s
Aren’t the GP38H-3s staying?
👍👍👍❤❤❤🚂🚂🚂